Karol Nawrocki, at the B9 Summit: We are not on a periphery, but a center of NATO gravity.

The President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, emphasized at the beginning of the B9 Summit in Bucharest that the countries of Central and Eastern Europe are not a periphery, but a center of gravity for NATO and "support must exist more than just on paper" in the face of Russia.

He highlighted that the strength of Europe is inseparable from the strength of NATO, mentioning that real support is essential in the face of external threats, especially from Russia.

"When Poland and Romania launched the B9 format 11 years ago, some sounded the alarm too loudly. We thought that imperial thinking had returned to Europe. Today, support must exist more than just on paper. No one can say that we were not warned. Russia's conflict is not an isolated one, but a threat to the entire North Atlantic order. Russia's conflict is not an isolated conflict. It aims to weaken the cohesion of NATO and democratic states, which is why B9 is more important than ever in the past; we are not on a periphery, but at the center of gravity of NATO. The unity of our countries is necessary, and that is also why we extend a warm welcome to our Nordic partners. This unity is our greatest strength. This is what makes the Kremlin most afraid," said Karol Nawrocki.

Nawrocki welcomed the involvement of Nordic countries and emphasized the need for continued unity from the Black Sea to the Arctic. He also stressed the importance of the Ankara Summit, which must send a clear message of defense for NATO territory. Poland invests 5% of its GDP in defense, considering that these expenses are crucial for collective security. The President reiterated strategic support for Ukraine and highlighted Belarus's role in the current conflict in Ukraine.

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